With a Few Humble Words, Bush Silences His Texas Swagger

New York Times ^ | May 27, 2006 | ELISABETH BUMILLER

[paul51]

During the time of war, I'd rather have a President that says he is going to kick ass and take no prisoner than one who feels a need to confess anything for the press. We have enough politicians and diplomats on the payroll to fulfill the talk nice nice role and wring their hands. It's a nasty world and I'm sure some of enemies got a kick out of that performance. I wish the President would come out and say he was kidding and in fact what he really intends to do is stomp every last terrorist into the ground, cut out their heart and feed it to wild dogs....well, that might be going a little to far but you get the idea.

[EBH]

I agree it was painful to hear. In fact it almost sounded like the much desired, "I surrender." What next apologies for Iraq?

No, he should have never apologized or stated such regrets, at least not while still in office if he felt he needed to clear those statements at all.

[stormer]

"My favorite actor with the twangy Texas accent is good ole Ben Johnson."



Hate to tell you this - Johnson is an Okie.

[Crooked Constituent]

The president should do whatever it takes to improve the public perception of him, even if it means using touchy feely democrat tactics.

What I thought was most humourous were the smiles on the faces of the press corps while he was saying 'sorry for speaking in Texan, a foreign language not familiar to some'.

The press were being real jerks, even asking Tony what it was like to see the president for the last time.

[Ditter]

Amen! Me too!

[DoughtyOne]

That pretty much says it for me. Thanks. I agree.

[Biblebelter]

Bush's problem is simple, he has lost the ability to distinguish from those who wish him harm and those who wish him well. No one is Washington is a greater enemy of the President than Teddy Kennedy. No leader in this hemisphere save Castro wishes the United States more harm than Vincente Fox. No one in the Republican Party has more personal animus for the President than John McCain. And yet he has embraced that crowd against Conservatives who were with him in the beginning and enthusiastically supported him through two very close elections.

[dayglored]

> Bush's problem is simple, he has lost the ability to distinguish from those who wish him harm and those who wish him well... he has embraced that [harmful] crowd against Conservatives who were with him in the beginning and enthusiastically supported him through two very close elections.

You're right there. It's a common failing among those who think like this: "Okay, my conservative base is solidly behind me. I don't have to worry about them. Now I need to pander to the middle-of-the-road and get them on my side." And once there are signs of that working: "Okay, the conservatives and middles are with me. Now I need to pander to the liberals and get some of them to side with me."

Forgetting that siding with liberals is going to undercut his conservative support. By the time the administration recognized that their actions were self-defeating, the solid base had rebelled, as well it should.

I agree completely with you -- the President took his conservative base for granted for far too long.

[ClancyJ]

President Bush needs to be reminded of what middle America loved about him - the fact that he was from Texas, with Texan values and he was our "cowboy".

The House needs to put on their cowboy hats as they fight for us against the Senate bill.

This is an amazing email, I needed to be reminded.

http://objflicks.com/cowboys_long.htm

[Freee-dame]

I think he should have said accepting Ari Fleishcer's resignation was his mistake.

I wish he had said that thinking that the military efforts of the US would be given even-handed treatment in the MSM was his mistake. Ditto by many 'Rat politicians.